y's

and my vision is blurry, taking a few moments to clear. The pounding in my head is relentless, like the aftermath of a terrib

t.

aying palm trees and an endless ocean. An island. I'm on some kind of island. My heart pounds i

across the glistening waves. Relief mingles with unease - at least I'm not alone, but w

h catche

wedding, the drink in the bathroom, the numbness

says smoothly as he

rage overtaking my conf

bag, casually pulls out a water bottle, and takes a long si

g here?" I demand, my voice tre

replies coolly, glancing at me b

Maldives? Are you kidding me? How - how

I saw Dario, he had just gotten out of prison. No

suspicion. "You barely had two cents to rub together when

how to work the system. Six months, and I was out - no sentence, no prison blues. But you wouldn't k

Snitching? What are

thought it was harmless gossip, but it wasn't. Arturo sold me out to one of the de

. I had no idea what Dario was involved in back then-no idea

"You kidnapped me to punish me for something I didn't even

She gave me everything I needed to know about you-your routine, your plans

old me out? For money? I knew our relationsh

serious?"

k you can sweet-talk your way out of this. I know every move you've m

place. He wasn't always this man-this cold, calculating stranger. Once, he was sweet, attentive, the kind of

The man is dressed in a black jacket and sunglasses, his demeanor screa

aralo," Dario

disappears as q

hone from his pocket. My heart skips

t be needing it. From now on, you don't c

disbelief. "You

ou're under my care. You go where I s

prisoner, Dario. The police will be loo

of Tom, his exp

means you're mine. No one's coming for you. No one even knows where you are. Y

reath, my hands

ash. "What

'm not staying here, and I'm not

before bursting into laughter. "You t

ldn't like to test my wrath, Katy. The Dario you knew is

rags me toward a winding path. I struggle, bu

stands a stunning villa, its architecture sleek a

I'm trapped. And this man-this stranger who on